Young Rabbitohs Destroy Warriors At Redfern Oval

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The Young Rabbitohs have demolished the last-placed New Zealand Warriors 68-10 at Redfern Oval today, having a field day in front of a vocal home crowd.

Despite the Warriors being glued firmly to the bottom of the Holden Cup Ladder, the visitors started the encounter strongly against the Young Rabbitohs – threatening the line and almost crossing through fullback Lee Turner in the 4th minute.

The defence of the Rabbitohs handled the early pressure well and it would be a slick shift to the right which would open the scoring as Beau Cordtz joined the attack and set up Tyrone Taukamo to score in the 6th minute. The winger finished strongly but windy conditions made it difficult for halfback Dean Hawkins to convert.

It wouldn’t take long for the Young Rabbitohs to find their groove, attacking the left edge this time to great success as Reweti found space to round the Warriors defence and score in the 10th minute. However, Hawkins couldn’t hit the mark from his conversion, kicking into the wind next to the touchline.

The Warriors edges would prove vulnerable with centre Dylan O’Connor making the most of some poor defence to break a tackle and slip through for a try. Hawkins would again find it difficult to convert from the touchlines and the Rabbitohs would take a 12-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The Young Rabbitohs would have another great chance in the 21st minute after Jalen Reweti would break the line and travel up field, throwing a floating pass back inside to Sam Johnstone who’d commit a double movement while trying to score.

Halfback Dean Hawkins would get in on the action in the 24th minute breaking the Warriors line and crossing just to the left of the post. The conversion would be simpler for the Hawkins and he’d slot his first kick of the day.

Coach Ryan Carr would bring Jordan Mailata into the fray in the 28th minute with the giant prop’s first run resulting in Warriors halfback Dylan Tavita being brought from the field for treatment. The following run would see Mailata bash through the Warriors line and score under the posts in the 30th minute. Hawkins would convert from just in front, seeing the Young Rabbitohs lead 24-0.

The Young Rabbitohs would shift down a gear for the remainder of the first half with the New Zealand Warriors getting some chances at the home side’s try line. Souths would pay for the lost intensity when Warriors prop Melino Fineanganofo would score from dummy half. They would convert through Kane Telea and half time would see the encounter at 24-6 in the Rabbitohs favour.

The second half would start with a flurry of points for the home side with Jordan Mailata crashing over for his second try in the 43rd minute and Blake Manowski scoring in the 45th minute. Hawkins would convert both tries to give the Young Rabbitohs a 36 – 6 lead.

It would continue to be one way traffic as the inform Rabbitohs would dismantle the New Zealand Warriors in front of a vocal home crowd.

Dylan O’Connor and Tyrone Taukamo would also bag their second try for the Young Rabbitohs in the 48th and 56th minutes. Hawkins converted one of the two kicks to push the Rabbitohs to a 46-6 lead.

The Young Rabbitohs would crack the 50 point mark as Siosifa Talakai carried several defenders over the try line to score in the 60th minute. Hawkins converted the try with little difficulty.

The contest was well over by the 63rd minute as Jalen Reweti streaked away on the wing to score the Rabbitohs 11th try and the fourth double from a player in Red and Green. Hawkins couldn’t convert, Rabbitohs leading 56-6.

While there would be no surprise of the outcome considering the Warriors form, the real surprise was how long it took dynamic fullback Beau Cordtz to get on the scoreboard – in this case taking until the 66th minute to produce a brilliant solo run and score under the posts. Hawkins convert, Rabbitohs 62-6 Warriors.

The Souths nerds butted heads after Kalani Ili scored a try in the 71st minute, they discovered that the Young Rabbitohs needed to end the contest with a points difference of 65 to jump into 6th place on the Holden Cup ladder. Hawkins converted, Rabbitohs 68- 6 Warriors. Three points needed!

That aspiration would take a hit when Warriors centre Gibson Popoalii would cross in the 76th minute. The conversion would go wide and the Rabbitohs would trail the 65 point margin by 7 points.